Fulham vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League team news, line-ups and ...
A general view of Craven Cottage (Getty Images)
Follow live coverage as Fulham face Brentford today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Fulham FC 0 - 1 Brentford FC
20:50
HALF-TIME: FULHAM 0-1 BRENTFORD
Fulham vs Brentford20:50
We are going to play two additional minutes at the end of this first half.
Fulham vs Brentford20:49
WIDE! Brentford go in search of a second goal at the other end. Lewis-Potter tees up Janelt on the edge of the box, but the latter's first-time shot is deflected away from goal and behind for a corner.
Fulham vs Brentford20:46
CHANCE! The hosts push for the equaliser and Iwobi's cross is met by Smith Rowe, whose header is a tame one as he does not connect as intended. Nelson looks to latch onto the loose ball at the far post, but Flekken does well to block the path to goal.
Fulham vs Brentford20:43
Fulham continue to ask the questions heading into the final five minutes of the first half. However, Brentford's defence remains stubborn for now.
Fulham vs Brentford20:42
Without a Premier League clean sheet at home since March, Fulham's wait to record a shutout will go on following Janelt's super strike. Can they get back into this game, though?
Fulham vs Brentford20:38
Nelson clips a cross towards the far post looking for Jimenez, who goes to ground after bumping into Van den Berg. The Fulham striker looks to the referee, but his hopes of a penalty being awarded are quickly waved away. Instead, it will be a corner.
Fulham vs Brentford20:36
Fulham look to respond on the counter with the referee playing an advantage following a tangle between Norgaard and Jimenez. Pereira eventually takes aim from the edge of the box, but his shot is blocked.
Fulham vs Brentford20:32
Having suffered defeat in all four of their away games in the Premier League this season, Brentford lead at Craven Cottage. There is still over an hour of this contest to go, but can they stop the rot today?
Fulham vs Brentford20:31
The statistics make it difficult to tell which way this game will now go. Fulham have failed to win any of their last 10 Premier League matches when conceding first in the Premier League, but Brentford have previously lost all three of their away league games this term when opening the scoring.
Fulham vs Brentford20:26
Goal Vitaly Janelt
Fulham vs Brentford20:26
The visitors look to threaten at the other end, but Lewis-Potter's cross is easily gathered by Leno.
Fulham vs Brentford20:25
WIDE! After Brentford fail to clear, Berge finds Nelson, who manages to get away from a couple of defenders and advance into the box. However, he drags his shot wide of Flekken's near post. That was a decent opportunity for the hosts to break the deadlock.
Fulham vs Brentford20:22
Fulham are aiming to extend their unbeaten streak in Premier League London derbies to six matches. The Cottagers are currently on their longest such run since going seven without defeat during the 2006-07 season.
Fulham vs Brentford20:20
GOOD BLOCK! Fulham put another lovely move together to work their way into the Brentford box. However, Collins makes a well-timed sliding intervention to divert Smith Rowe's shot away from goal.
Fulham vs Brentford20:18
With two shots and three touches in the opposing box, it has been a promising start to what is only Nelson's second Premier League start since July 2020.
Fulham vs Brentford20:16
Nelson leads Fulham's charge again with a strong run from just inside his own half, and into the Brentford area. However, he takes a heavy touch at an inopportune moment, and the ball trickles behind for a goal-kick.
Fulham vs Brentford20:15
There is a concern for Brentford as Flekken goes down and is in need of attention. The goalkeeper eventually gets to his feet and will continue for now. The visitors will hope it is nothing too serious.
Fulham vs Brentford20:12
Good defending! Lewis-Potter hooks a ball over the top of the Fulham defence for Mbeumo to run onto. However, Robinson anticipates the danger well, and does just about enough to shepherd the ball away from the Brentford forward.
Fulham vs Brentford20:12
SAVES! Fulham continue their bright start with Nelson driving down the left. The winger then drills a low effort that is blocked by Flekken, who is quickly to his feet to deny the same player's follow-up from a tight angle.
Fulham vs Brentford20:08
Jimenez has scored 10 goals in his last 13 Premier League starts. Although he did not execute that effort as intended, the former Wolves striker will now be all the more determined to make the most of the next opportunity that falls his way.
Fulham vs Brentford20:05
Fulham register the first shot on goal following a neat exchange of passes around the Brentford area. Smith Rowe lays off Jimenez, whose tame effort is easily gathered by Flekken.
Fulham vs Brentford20:03
The referee blows his whistle and Brentford get us under way.
Fulham vs Brentford19:58
The two teams make their way onto the pitch from the entrance at the corner of Craven Cottage. We are almost ready to go.
Fulham vs Brentford19:58
Neither Fulham or Brentford like rotating their squads too much. Indeed, they have started 15 and 16 different players respectively in the Premier League this season. Those are the two lowest tallies in the division, with Aston Villa joining the Bees on 16.
Fulham vs Brentford19:58
As for Brentford, Thomas Frank sticks with the side that started the 4-3 win over Ipswich Town last time out. Kristoffer Ajer has not quite recovered from a foot injury in time, while Rico Henry, Gustavo Nunes and Igor Thiago are all nearing returns. Aaron Hickey and Josh Dasilva remain long-term absentees.
Fulham vs Brentford19:53
Marco Silva makes two changes from Fulham's last-gasp draw with Everton. Andersen and Nelson come into the starting XI with Diop and Traore dropping to the bench. Castagne returns among the substitutes after a hamstring injury, but a shoulder problem will keep Sasa Lukic sidelined until after the international break.
Fulham vs Brentford19:48
SUBS: Hakon Valdimarsson, Ben Mee, Jayden Meghoma, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Yunus Konak, Paris Maghoma, Mathias Jensen, Fabio Carvalho, Kevin Schade.
Fulham vs Brentford19:48
BRENTFORD (4-2-3-1): Mark Flekken; Mads Roerslev, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Sepp van den Berg; Christian Norgaard, Vitaly Janelt; Bryan Mbeumo, Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter; Yoane Wissa.
Fulham vs Brentford19:43
SUBS: Steven Benda, Issa Diop, Timothy Castagne, Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney, Ryan Sessegnon, Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz, Adama Traore.
Fulham vs Brentford19:43
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson; Andreas Pereira, Sander Berge; Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi; Raul Jimenez.
Fulham vs Brentford19:43
It is 12th against 11th in this west London derby, with a win for either side lifting them into the top half of the Premier League table. Fulham are aiming to end a three-game winless streak, while Brentford seek a third win in four league matches.
Fulham vs Brentford19:32
Hello everyone and welcome to live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Fulham and Brentford at Craven Cottage.
Fulham vs Brentford19:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Fulham vs Brentford18:00
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
